The only thing that is currently preventing me from OD'ing is the fact I have a responsibility, i.e my job which I work in full time. If I overdosed, was too ill to turn up, they'd be understaffed and would really, really struggle.
I dont plan on doing it. I'm just wondering if you have had any experience with employers and mental health. If I was to overdose, could they sack me? Could they even find out? Experiences?
I dont plan on doing it. I'm just wondering if you have had any experience with employers and mental health. If I was to overdose, could they sack me? Could they even find out? Experiences?
When I was in a full time job, and I took ODs, then of course I was not able to work. My employers didnt find out because I never got medical treatment - so there was nothing written down for my employers to find out. My parents put it down to an 24 hour bug (as I was living with them) as I only took 24 hours off. So did my employers - I just said I had an 24 hour bug.
As for sacking you for taking overdoses, I dont think they can. However if you do have frequent sick days (especially if you are fairly new to the job), they can sack you. However they cannot sack you just because you decide to take one OD, they have to give you a verbal warning, then a written warning about excessive sick days, before sacking you.
Last edited by not_so_insig : 14-04-2011 at 10:10 PM.
Reason: clarified what I meant.
Wannabe CPN : -)
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As for sacking you for taking overdoses, I dont think they can. However if you do have frequent sick days (especially if you are fairly new to the job), they can sack you. However they cannot sack you just because you decide to take one OD, they have to give you a verbal warning, then a written warning about excessive sick days, before sacking you.
I have never been sacked for od-ing because am still in the same job:) Though when i have turned up for work having od-ed etc my boss does know there is something up, normally. I don't tell him clearly. He never knew that i was in hospital either for it as i was kept in overnight for obs on the monday night allowed home tuesday about half 2 . 7pm back at work.
There was one time i was very close to being sacked though, my boss never knew about my depression as i didn't know how he would handle it. I was struggleing really badly, no sleep, knackered , no energy/go power and i just wanted the night off to get an early nights sleep. I told my mum i was ill and could she ring up my boss. I found out a few days after that that my mum had been into my work and told my boss that she didn't know what was up with me as i seemed fine earlier on. So i get a phone call the next day from my boss telling me ( he thought i just cba to come in) that if i wasn't in on the next shift i would be sacked pretty much
thankfully when I was o/ding a lot I had a wonderful manager who kinda knew a bit about what I was going through. (for a period of time she also suffered from depression although it was more situational and not biological as it is for me) anyway she was very lovely and at one point (after a member on here called the bakery I was working at at like mid night to get my managers number so I could get help) my manager didnt even yell at me or anything, instead she just came around the next day after she finished work to make sure I was ok and safe-ish
there just my experiences though and I guess I was really lucky to have someone so kind and understanding
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I am an employer and legally no, you cannot dismiss someone for being off work due to an overdose.
However, you can dismiss employees in some circumstances for taking too many days off sick. Especially if they have been in the position less than a year. (If you have worked for the same company for over a year you would be entitled to an employment tribunal.)
An employer can also (with your permission) write to your doctor to ask if they think you are suitable for the position.
You can also be dismissed if you lie about your health on an application form, or if you fail to disclose to your employers, something that could affect you in your job (for example if you are working in a job where you are responsible for caring for a minor alone, and fail to tell your employer you suffer from panic attacks, as this could put the person you are caring for at risk.)
I have recently had to dismiss someone who had mental health problems, it was a very difficult process but there is only so much lenience you can give.
